Coin handling apparatus having slidably displaceable housing parts

Abstract

A coin handling apparatus has an apparatus housing and a coin processing device contained within said apparatus housing, wherein said apparatus housing has a coin intake, said coin handling apparatus being adapted to receive coins to be processed by said coin processing device through said coin intake from a user. The apparatus housing comprises a first housing part and a second housing part, wherein said coin intake is provided in said second housing part and wherein said second housing part is displaceable from said first housing part so as to expose said coin processing device to said user.

1 . A coin handling apparatus comprising an apparatus housing and a coin processing device contained within said apparatus housing, wherein said apparatus housing has a coin intake, said coin handling apparatus being adapted to receive coins to be processed by said coin processing device through said coin intake from a user, 
 wherein said apparatus housing comprises a first housing part and a second housing part, said coin intake being provided in said second housing part; and    wherein said coin handling apparatus comprises means for supporting slidable displacement of said second housing part with respect to said first housing part so as to expose said coin processing device to said user.    
   
   
       2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said second housing part has a top side surface, said coin intake being provided at said top side surface.  
   
   
       3 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said second housing part is displaceable from said first housing part in a substantially horizontal direction parallel to said top side surface.  
   
   
       4 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a base onto which said coin processing device is mounted, wherein said base remains fixed with respect to said first housing part when said second housing part is displaced from said first housing part.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said means for supporting slidable displacement includes a pair of rails mounted to said base.  
   
   
       6 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a conveyor belt provided at said coin intake, said conveyor belt being adapted to receive said coins to be processed from said user and to feed said received coins to said coin processing device.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a coin input trapdoor provided at said coin intake, said trapdoor being controllable to assume first and second positions, wherein, in the first position, said received coins are prevented from entering said coin processing device and wherein, in the second position, said received coins are permitted to enter said coin processing device.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising a controller, wherein said controller is adapted, in response to a detected malfunction of said apparatus in the form of an unexpected displacement of said second housing part from said first housing part during an ongoing coin processing transaction, to cause said trapdoor to assume its first position.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising a controller and a coin sensor, the coin sensor being adapted to detect at least one physical characteristic in the presence of a coin, wherein said controller is adapted, during an ongoing coin processing transaction, to 
 cause said trapdoor to assume its first position so as to prevent input of coins from said coin intake to said coin processing device;    cause said coin sensor to produce a calibration value related to said at least one physical characteristic in the absence of coins; and    cause said trapdoor to assume its second position so as to admit input of coins from said coin intake to said coin processing device.    
   
   
       10 . An apparatus according to  claim 8  and having a conveyor belt provided at said coin intake, said conveyor belt being adapted to receive said coins to be processed from said user and to feed said received coins to said coin processing device, wherein said controller is adapted, when causing said trapdoor to assume its first position, to also cause said conveyor belt to stop feeding received coins.  
   
   
       11 . An apparatus according to  claim 9  and having a conveyor belt provided at said coin intake, said conveyor belt being adapted to receive said coins to be processed from said user and to feed said received coins to said coin processing device, wherein said controller is adapted, when causing said trapdoor to assume its first position, to also cause said conveyor belt to stop feeding received coins.  
   
   
       12 . A coin handling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said coin processing device comprises a plurality of coin separating stations and a coin sensor positioned along a circular transport path defining a coin transport direction, each coin separating station comprising a controllable member for separating coins individually off said circular transport path in response to at least one coin characteristic detected by said coin sensor, wherein said coin separating stations include at least one station assigned for separation of valid coins, as indicated by said at least one coin characteristic.  
   
   
       13 . A coin handling apparatus having 
 an apparatus housing comprising a first housing part and a second housing part;    a coin intake in said apparatus housing; and    a coin processing device contained within said apparatus housing, said coin handling apparatus being adapted to receive coins to be processed by said coin processing device through said coin intake from a user,    wherein said coin intake is provided in said second housing part, and    wherein said second housing part is slidably displaceable from said first housing part so as to expose said coin processing device to said user.